Month: June 2023

Caroline Wozniacki, the former No. 1 women’s tennis player in the world, announced Thursday on social media that she is ending her retirement and attempt a comeback.  Wozniacki wrote in the caption of her social media post: “Over these past three years away from the game I got to make up for lost time with my family, I became a mother and now have two beautiful children I am so grateful for. But I still have goals I want to accomplish. I want to show my kids that you can pursue your dreams no matter your age or role. We decided as a family it’s time. I’m coming back to play and I can’t wait!”  The 32-year-old Wozniacki shared in a first-person essay for Vogue that she plans to play in the 2023 U.S. Open, and is also hoping to compete at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris.

Wozniacki has previously announced in Dec. 2019, that she would retire from tennis in large part due to her battle with rheumatoid arthritis that left her in constant pain. She cited “things away from tennis” that she wanted to “do more,” including her family and raising awareness about rheumatoid arthritis. Wozniacki married former NBA player David Lee in 2019, and the couple welcomed daughter Olivia in 2021 and son James in October.

Wozniacki, a three-time Olympian, started playing professional at 15 years old in 2005, earning her first win in 2006 and making her Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon 2006. Wozniacki, who owns a 635-264 record on the singles circuit, claimed 30 WTA singles titles, a WTA Finals victory and earned more than $35.2 million in prize money. She became the top player in the world on Oct. 10, 2010, holding the No. 1 ranking for 71 weeks.

Wozniacki plans to enter the National Bank Open, held from Aug. 4 to 13 in Montreal, before heading onto the U.S. Open, taking place Aug. 28 – Sept. 10 in Flushing, N.Y. Wozniacki said she “thinks” she can win the tournament: “I’ll start out playing in Montreal just to get back into the groove, and then we’ll all head to New York,  After that, I’ll have a couple of months to prepare for Australia, and we’ll take it from there. The Paris Olympics are definitely a goal too.”

Editorial credit: Neale Cousland / Shutterstock.com

The NFL announced on Thursday the suspensions of Indianapolis Colts veteran cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, Colts defensive end Rashod Berry, free agent Demetrius Taylor and Nicholas Petit-Frere of the Tennessee Titans for violations of its gambling policy as part of the NFL’s latest investigation. Rodgers, Berry and Taylor each were suspended through the entire 2023-24 season for betting on NFL games during the 2022-23 campaign. Petit-Frere was also suspended for six games instead of indefinitely because he bet on non-NFL sports while at the Titans facility (part of the league’s gambling rules state that no NFL employee can gamble in any club or league facility/venue including a team’s practice facility).

Rodgers, Berry and Taylor are eligible to petition the league to be reinstated once the 2023 season ends. As a result, the Colts waived both Rodgers and Berry shortly after the news broke. Colts general manager Chris Ballard said in a news release: “We have made the following roster moves as a consequence of the determination that these players violated the league’s gambling policy. The integrity of the game is of the utmost importance. As an organization, we will continue to educate our players, coaches, and staff on the policies in place and the significant consequences that may occur with violations.”

The NFL has now suspended nine additional players this offseason: Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams and wideout Stanley Berryhill were suspended six games for betting at team facilities, and Lions WR Quintez Cephus and safety C.J. Moore, as well as Commanders defensive lineman Shaka Toney, were suspended indefinitely for betting on NFL games.  Berryhill, Cephus and Moore were subsequently released.

The 25-year-old Rodgers, a fourth-year cornerback and kick returner for the Colts, took “full responsibility” for his alleged gambling shortly afterward, apologizing via social media. Rogers totaled 34 combined tackles, four fumble recoveries, three passes defensed and a forced fumble in 15 games last season. Berry, 26, totaled four combined tackles in eight appearances over his first two seasons with the New England Patriots and Detroit Lions. He spent last season with the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad before signing with the Colts in January. The 24-year-old Taylor appeared in one game last season for the Lions, spending most of the 2022-23 campaign on the practice squad.

Editorial credit: Alena Veasey / Shutterstock.com

The Chicago Bulls announced Wednesday that Nikola Vucevic has agreed to a three-year, $60 million extension.

Chicago traded for Vucevic at the 2021 trade deadline, giving away Wendell Carter Jr. as well as draft picks Franz Wagner and Michigan’s Jett Howard. Bulls general manager Arturas Karnisovas recently said that he “thought that deal worked out pretty well for us.”

The 32-year-old Vucevic averaged 17.6 points and 11 rebounds last season, reaching the playoffs with the Bulls despite losing in the play-in round to the Miami Heat.

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The Vegas Golden Knights and winger Ivan Barbashev have agreed on a five-year deal worth $5 million per season.

The 27-year-old Barbashev came to Vegas this year in a midseason trade with the St. Louis Blues, where he spent the first five years of his career as a bottom-six player. He scored 16 goals and produced 45 points through the 2022-23 season, producing 18 points in 22 games during the playoffs through the Golden Knight’s championship run.

In 45 games with Vegas — including both the regular season and playoffs — Barbashev scored 13 goals and produced 34 points. His 0.76 points per game with the team was well above his career standard (0.45) and even topped his career year in 2021-22 (0.74).

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